Nihongo Flow vs Renshuu
Renshuu gives you a huge amount for free. Nihongo Flow gives you less to click through and more speaking. Which one fits depends on how you like to learn.
Written by the Nihongo Flow team. We make one of these apps, so read this with that in mind. We give the other apps their wins too and link every source. Facts checked on 2026-11-07. Prices change and differ by country. If something here is out of date, tell us on Discord and we fix it. A dash (—) means the product's own pages don't list it.
At a glance
| Nihongo Flow | Renshuu | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan · Premium €7.99 a month or €89.99 a year | Free · optional renshuu pro (monthly, yearly or lifetime) |
| Grammar | 52 lessons from N5 to N1 | 800+ grammar expressions, 7,500+ quiz questions |
| JLPT | N5 to N1 | JLPT and Kanji Kentei learning paths |
| AI speaking practice | AI tutor chat (16+) · live voice call with Sensei in Ultra Maxx | — |
| Spoken vs textbook Japanese | Side by side, with register labels | — |
| Explanation languages | 10 | English (some menus translated by volunteers) |
| Platforms | iPhone, web | Web, iOS, Android, Mac |
Where Renshuu is better
- A very generous free tier.
- Much more grammar and kanji material, plus Kanji Kentei paths.
- Lots of ways to quiz yourself.
Where Nihongo Flow is better
- Speaking practice with an AI tutor and, in Ultra Maxx, a live voice call.
- Spoken Japanese next to textbook Japanese, so you know what people really say.
- One clear path instead of many menus.
- Explanations in 10 languages.
Our honest take
If you love collecting and quizzing and want the most for free, Renshuu is hard to beat. If you want a guided path that gets you talking, pick Nihongo Flow.
Sources
- https://www.renshuu.org/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1542730063
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.renshuu.renshuu_org
- https://nihongo-flow.app/en/pricing
- https://apps.apple.com/app/nihongo-flow/id6795556751
Free, no credit card. Try it and judge for yourself.
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